The Fee Demostration
Program is being run by
the Forest Service,BLM
and Army Corp. They are
running a pilot program to
test the American puplic's
complience to the idea of
user fees on public land.
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In 1996 congress passed a rider on a
appropriations bill which allows the Forest
Service.BLm and Army corps. of engineers to
charge user fees to recreate on public lands.
Written into the bill is the concept of a joint
effort by the Forest Service and corperations
to begin managing sites and facilities and
charging the public "fair market value"
to recreate on public land. This was lobbied
by a group called ARC (American Recreation
Colalition) some of the members include
Disney,Rei,Harley Davidson,Times-Mirror.
What we have here is double taxation,your
taxes already support the National Forest
Service. And most importantly this is the
beginning of a corperate take over of public
lands. Somethig needs to be done!!!
Several organistations are currentely
contesting this program but more public
outcry needs to be heard!
Check out these web sites:
www.wildwilderness.org and www.
freeourforest.org. A national day of protest
has been set for June 10th let us all get
active or the corperations will be running
OUR public lands.
Here is some useful information I've quoted from the August '99 Free Our Forests flier titled:
All About the Forest Service Adventure Pass
- What To Do If You Get a "Ticket":
"If you disagree with the Adventure Pass program, don't pay it. The Notice of Noncompliance (Notice) IS NOT ACTUALLY A TICKET; it is a notice that you have not paid the fee, and is carefully designed to look like a ticket.
"...No one has yet been fined for refusing to pay for a Notice of Noncompliance after receiving one. In fact, everyone who has challenged the program of the Notice of Noncompliance in court has had thier case dismissed 'in the interest of justice.'
"Forest Service officers can issue these Notices, but they have no authority to ban you from public lands for not having a pass. ANY NOTICE OF NONCOMPLIANCE RECEIVED AND NOT PAID IS A 'NO' VOTE against this program. You should copy the Notice and send it to your Congressional Representitive with a note questioning the authority for it. This will force your Representative to review the legal inconsistencies in the Adventure Pass and Fee Demo programs while noting your opposition to them."
Lets go enjoy OUR forests and be counted as "NO" votes in the process!